Deacon Lu’s declaration left the gathered disciples completely baffled.

An Inner Disciple spoke up, “Deacon Lu, just what is this person’s background?”

“The Little Sky Net Sect! That lot of fortune-telling, mumbling mystics,” Deacon Lu scoffed. “The location you all searched—was it clean? Absolutely nothing there?”

“Indeed, it was empty.”

Deacon Lu let out a cold snort. “That fits. That is exactly the Little Sky Net Sect’s style.”

“This person must have divined that an unfavorable event would occur today, so he simply extricated himself and fled back to the Little Sky Net Sect.”

“There is no need to search his dwelling, either.”

Having said his piece, he released a flower-shaped Magical Artifact. “That is all for today. I must go report to the Sect Leader. You are all to cultivate diligently and tend to the spirit fields. Do not cause any more trouble!”

Without waiting for a response, he soared into the sky, carrying a silvery-white spindle-shaped object with him.

The Inner and Outer Disciples quickly followed suit, leaving behind only Steward Wang and two blue-robed Outer Disciples, surnamed Ji and Hua.

Outer Disciple Ji dismissed the crowd of Laborer Disciples, then walked over to Steward Wang with a chuckle. He watched as the portly steward enthusiastically disciplined the Laborer Disciple who had been caught pleasuring himself earlier.

“This kid… he really is quite the talent…”

“He made us lose face in front of the Deacon. I have to sort him out properly.” Steward Wang throttled the man by the neck. “You shameless wretch! Are you going to do it again?”

The Laborer Disciple whimpered softly, “Then… in the future, I’ll only do it twice a day.”

“What?”

Steward Wang, Outer Disciple Ji, and Outer Disciple Hua stood dumbfounded.

Was this man born solely for breeding? Where did such an immense addiction come from?

Off to the side, the Laborer Disciples began to scatter. Liu Lan, still unclear on the details, spoke in a low, tearful voice to the few people she knew: Wei Kunyi, Sun Kang, Old Daoist Li, and Han Yu.

“Just what kind of trouble did Senior Brother Zhang provoke? Even a Deacon came…”

“I didn’t know anything, yet I got implicated too. If I had known, I never would have accepted his gifts!”

“It’s a bit late for that now,” Wei Kunyi said with a smile. “Fortunately, our sect is enlightened. They didn’t punish everyone involved. I’ve heard that in some sects, even a hint of suspicion leads to the execution of disciples. That is true tyranny.”

Seeing Liu Lan still brimming with tears, Wei Kunyi added, “Give it two days. I’ll help you ask around and find out exactly what Zhang Shan did to startle the sect like this.”

“Can you really find out?” Sun Kang asked, his face honest and simple.

Wei Kunyi gave a mysterious smile. “Of course I can.”

“There are secrets within Wanchun Valley that simply cannot be kept hidden.”

The group parted ways. As they reached the front of the spirit fields, Han Yu stopped and glanced at the white-haired Old Daoist Li.

Old Daoist Li seemed to sense the gaze. He paused for a brief moment, then quickened his pace, retreating into his own stone hut.

Seeing this attitude, Han Yu did not press the matter. He returned to his own stone hut to calm his mind and cultivate.

Wanchun Valley was indeed not overly harsh. They had only searched the homes of a few suspicious individuals; the other Laborer Disciples were spared a door-to-door interrogation.

Han Yu naturally breathed a sigh of relief at this outcome. After all, he harbored secrets of his own.

However, under such relatively loose management, there were likely many more disciples in Wanchun Valley hiding ulterior motives. People like Old Daoist Li and Zhang Shan were certainly not the only ones.

In his future dealings, Han Yu would need to be vigilant. He could not afford to bare his heart to anyone.

After consuming the Mystic Heart Fruit, absorbing its medicinal power, and converting it into Spirit Breath, Han Yu practiced the Blood Refining Technique.

He used his own essence blood to bolster his Blood Essence, driving the technique’s Circulation Cycle.

When the spiritual seed in his dantian fully germinated, he would reach the third level of Qi Refining.

When the second crimson line of the blood talisman at his Tanzhong acupoint fully condensed, he would reach the second level of Blood Refining.

Judging by his current speed, Han Yu had a daily limit on how much spiritual energy and medicinal power he could absorb. Reaching the third level of Qi Refining would take at least another half year.

However, for the second level of Blood Refining, as long as he continuously replicated his essence blood to increase his Blood Essence, he was guaranteed to break through within a month. Even the third level would take, at most, another two or three months.

Perhaps Old Daoist Li was right. The methods of the Demon Blood Sect, which utilized essence blood to raise cultivation, could indeed rapidly advance Han Yu’s power.

It seemed Han Yu really was a “genius” suited for the Demon Blood Sect’s techniques.

“Did I really join the wrong sect?”

The thought floated to the surface of his mind, but he immediately negated it.

The Demon Blood Sect had a foul reputation. Its members were selfish, deceitful, and treacherous. If Han Yu were to truly commit to the Demon Blood Sect, he likely wouldn’t enjoy a single day of peace.

It was better here. At least in the Spirit Field Department of Wanchun Valley, no one disturbed his daily cultivation.

Having completed his rounds of the Green Grain Qi Cultivation Method and the Blood Refining Technique, Han Yu took a deep breath to steady his emotions.

He picked up the Jade Slip containing the Spirit Root Refining Art. He studied it intently once more, ensuring every detail was accurate and memorized by heart.

Finally, he began the main event of today’s cultivation.

The Spirit Root Refining Art. With this secret technique, he would refine his Spirit Roots!

Spirit Breath surged, circulating through his entire frame. Han Yu began to guide the energy according to the art, slowly forcing the four Spirit Roots within him to manifest.

Just this first step caused his body to tense up, a dull ache throbbing through him.

This was because cultivation aptitude—the Spirit Roots—was not located in a single organ. It was a fortune of birth, infused throughout the entire body.

This was why practicing the Spirit Root Refining Art without a corresponding body-tempering method led to frailty, sickness, and a shortened lifespan. The art essentially refined and consumed the aptitude that constituted the body itself.

A full half-hour later, Han Yu finally visualized his own Spirit Roots.

Golden with a pale sheen—the Metal element. Verdant green—the Wood element. Blue bordering on black—the Water element. Pure, blazing crimson—the Fire element.

Han Yu already understood that while humans were born with the Five Elements within, their cultivation aptitude favored specific ones. Today’s inspection confirmed he lacked the Earth element. He possessed Four Spirit Roots: Metal, Wood, Water, and Fire.

He only needed to use the Spirit Root Refining Art to refine one of them, turning it into nourishment for the remaining three. His cultivation speed would then increase dramatically.

With a shift of his will, Han Yu settled on the Fire Spirit Root.

The Metal Spirit Root was beneficial for sword arts and offensive power. The Wood and Water Spirit Roots were highly practical within Wanchun Valley.

If a sacrifice had to be made, it could only be Fire.

Having manifested his Spirit Roots and made his choice, Han Yu activated the Spirit Root Refining Art and began the first refinement.

The moment he started, it felt as though his entire body was being pierced by needles. The pain was excruciating.

Han Yu grit his teeth and muffled a groan, forcing himself through one full Circulation Cycle. By the time he stopped, he was drenched in sweat, bean-sized drops rolling down his forehead.

It hurt too much! That piercing agony, pervasive and inescapable, nearly made him give up halfway.

Fortunately, Han Yu managed to persevere.

He checked the Fire Spirit Root again. Only a microscopically small portion had been refined.

Yet, a distinct wave of weakness washed over his body.

Han Yu was secretly alarmed. The difficulty of cultivating the Spirit Root Refining Art is even greater than I imagined!

He immediately switched back to the Green Grain Qi Cultivation Method. To his surprise and delight, he found that his limit for absorbing medicinal power had increased by a sliver.

The effect of the Spirit Root Refining Art was immediate. His daily cap for cultivation growth had risen!

The agony and difficulty of the previous session instantly transformed into the joy of harvest.

No matter how difficult, no matter the pain—he had to practice the Spirit Root Refining Art!